One year after Merle Haggard’s death, more than 30 stars gathered at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena last night (April 6) to pay tribute to the Hag on what would have been his 80th birthday.
Dubbed Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard, the concert featured performances from Willie Nelson, Keith Richards, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, John Mellencamp, Dierks Bentley, Sheryl Crow, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams Jr., Toby Keith, The Avett Brothers, Alison Krauss, Ronnie Dunn, Alabama, Billy Gibbons, Warren Haynes, Jamey Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Lucinda Williams, Ben Haggard, John Anderson, Connie Smith, Rodney Crowell, Buddy Miller, Jake Owen, Aaron Lewis, Tanya Tucker, Chris Janson and Bobby Bare.
Some of the night’s highlights included:
Jake Owen and Chris Janson: “Footlights”
The Avett Brothers: “Mama Tried”
Miranda Lambert: “Misery and Gin”
Hank Williams Jr: “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink”
Willie Nelson and Keith Richards: “Reasons to Quit”
Willie Nelson and Kenny Chesney: “Pancho and Lefty”
Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith: “Ramblin’ Fever”
All Artists: “Okie From Muskogee”
Below, watch as Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and the rest of the all-star crew close the show with “Okie From Muskogee.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Rain forced Tennessee indoors on Thursday afternoon as the Vols completed their eighth practice of the spring season in full pads at the Anderson Training Center.
Offensive line coach Walt Wells spoke with reporters after practice for the first time this spring, discussing the ways he’s set about tinkering with the positional makeup of that unit.
“I’d like to settle them in at one position,” Wells said. “But with some of the things — we’ve had some class conflicts and different things like that — you’ve just got to put the best five out there to give us a chance to move the football and do some good things. So we’ve been able to do that, which is a good cross-training in the spring. When we get into fall camp, I’d like to settle in as much as we can.”
With eight of its 15 scheduled spring workouts now complete, Tennessee heads to the back half of the spring season with eyes on the annual DISH Orange & White Game. The Orange & White Game concludes the spring season on April 22 at Neyland Stadium (4 p.m. ET, SEC Network). Admission and parking are free to the public and a fan appreciation event will precede kickoff.
The Vols wrap up Week Three of spring ball on Saturday, returning to Neyland Stadium for a closed practice.
(On the experience he had last season entering the SEC after his time in junior college)
“It was definitely a big learning experience, I think. Coming in and never playing in the SEC, it will definitely wake you up when you’re there as far as you’re just going up against better athletes. I think the biggest thing is probably details, maybe a bit more film work than junior college and beforehand. The one guy that really helped me through it all was Derek Barnett. He kind of took me under his wing and kind of gave me the ins and outs.”
(On feeling motivation to prove himself for the upcoming season)
“It’s my last year so I feel like i have a lot to prove to my teammates. I’ve got a lot to prove to myself, really. That’s really it — to my teammates and to myself. I feel like I could’ve played way better than I did last year.”
(On who has stood out this spring)
“I think Marcus Tatum is really coming along and doing some good things. Marcus has added some weight, which is good for him, and some strength in the weight room. He is really coming on and he is playing both right and left, but he is playing primarily right. He has done a good job.”
(On John Kelly’s leadership)
“John came into a running back group with a culture about how to lead and work. He was thrown into it, and from early on, you could see that he had the leadership qualities that you want. He has completely taken over that role and he understands how we need to practice and how the meeting room should be conducted. Sometimes, if you look around when I’m not with the backs, he’s over there running drills. He understands what it takes to be a leader, and this spring is going to give him that opportunity to continue to help and lead the team.”
IRVING, Texas – The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced on Wednesday the members of the 2017 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers. A total of 1,091 players from 298 schools qualified for membership in the society’s 11th year, both new single-year records in the history of the program.
Wiesman was named to the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 team in November. The Kinesiology major has a 3.48 GPA, is a four-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection, an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship nominee and a nominee for the 2016-17 Chancellor’s Award for Extraordinary Academic Achievement.
Wiesman played in 46 games and made 25 starts for the Vols at a variety of positions. He won three bowl games and was one of UT’s mainstays as a starter in 2015 and 2016, helping pave the way for two of the most productive offensive seasons in program history.
“We are pleased to see a record number of colleges and universities embrace the Hampshire Honor Society this year,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “Over the past decade, it has become a powerful vehicle for schools to recognize their college football players who have distinguished themselves both academically and athletically, and we congratulate the schools and each of these young men for their commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives.”
The NFF Hampshire Honor Society capitalizes on the NFF’s National Scholar-Athlete program by greatly expanding the number of scholar-athletes the NFF can recognize each year. The program further strengthens the organization’s leadership role in encouraging academic performance by the student-athletes who play football at the 777 colleges and universities with football programs nationwide.
The 1,091 players honored in 2017 sets a new high water mark, eclipsing the previous record of 882 honorees in 2016. The 298 schools with members breaks the previous record of 280 in both 2015 and 2016.
The initiative has honored 7,725 student-athletes since its inception, and the program has experienced growth every year in either members or school participation since its launch in 2007.
Nineteen schools had at least 10 honorees in 2017, including Boise State, Brown, Carnegie Mellon (Pa.), Central (Iowa), Chicago (Ill.), Colorado School of Mines, Dayton, Elmhurst (Ill.), Hendrix (Ark.), Huntingdon (Ala.), Juniata (Pa.), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Morningside (Iowa), Nebraska Wesleyan, Pacific Lutheran (Wash.), Saint John’s (Minn.), Southwestern (Texas), St. Thomas (Minn.) and Yale.
Brown in the FCS and Saint John’s (Minn.) in Division III led the way with 18 honorees each in 2017, tying Union (N.Y.) in 2012 for the most members in a single year. Boise State led all FBS schools with 11 members. Colorado School of Mines led Division II with 10 members while Morningside (Iowa) led the NAIA with 11.
Jon F. Hanson, the chairman and founder of The Hampshire Companies, provided the endowment to launch the NFF Hampshire Honor Society in 2007. He made the contribution as part of his legacy to the organization after serving as NFF Chairman from 1994-2006. He currently serves the organization as the chairman emeritus. Each player awarded with membership in this year’s Honor Society will receive a certificate commemorating their achievement.
“It was my great privilege to endow the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which has greatly increased the number of college student-athletes the NFF has been able to recognize during the past 11 years,” said Hanson. “Nationwide there are thousands of football players excelling in the classroom, and they’re going on to be great leaders. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society continues to grow and allows us to shine a light on their hard work.”
“We have honored more than 7,700 student-athletes in the last 11 years thanks to Jon Hanson’s generosity,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “We are grateful for his passionate belief in the scholar-athlete ideal, and the Hampshire Honor Society allows us to showcase the names of tomorrow’s leaders while inspiring future generations to follow in their footsteps.”
Qualifications for membership in the NFF Hampshire Honor Society include:
Being a starter or a significant contributor in one’s last year of eligibility (or a senior who has declared for the NFL Draft) at an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III or an NAIA college or university;
Achieving a 3.2 cumulative grade point average throughout entire course of undergraduate study; and
Meeting all NCAA/NAIA-mandated progress towards degree requirements.
The Hampshire Honor Society represents an important component in the organization’s rich history as an innovator in promoting the scholar-athlete ideal, which began in 1959 with the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards. Launched with a donation from Hall of Fame coach Earl “Red” Blaik, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, presented by Fidelity Investments, became the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on a player’s combined academic success, football performance and community leadership. Since its inception, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards program has awarded $11.1 million to 828 top scholars and community leaders.
Each recipient of an NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. Additionally, The William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by Fidelity Investments and displayed at its official home inside the New York Athletic Club, is given to one member of each year’s class as the absolute best scholar-athlete in the nation. The winner of the Campbell Trophy, claimed by First-Team Academic All-American and three-time All-MAC quarterback Zach Terrell (Western Michigan) in 2016, receives a total scholarship of $25,000 and a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy. Through its chapter network, the NFF also awards an additional $1 million to local high school student-athletes, bringing the NFF’s annual scholarship distribution total to more than $1.3 million.
About the Hampshire Foundation
The Hampshire Foundation is the charitable arm of The Hampshire Companies, a privately-held, fully-integrated real estate firm that has more than 60 years of hands-on, cycle-tested experience in acquiring, developing, leasing, repositioning, managing, financing and disposing of real estate. Founded by Jon F. Hanson, who served as NFF Chairman from 1994-2006, Hampshire is headquartered in Morristown, N.J. Learn more at www.hampshirere.com.
About The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include FootballMatters.org, the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, The William V. Campbell Trophy presented by Fidelity Investments, annual scholarships of more than $1.3 million and a series of initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments, Herff Jones, Hofmann Brands, New York Athletic Club, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, PrimeSport, the Sports Business Journal, Under Armour and VICIS. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.
Lady Vols coach Holly Warlick / Credit: UT Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Lady Vol head coach Holly Warlick met with the media on Thursday afternoon, discussing the decision of Diamond DeShields and Mercedes Russell to remain at UT and sharing her thoughts on the anticipated impact of the No. 1-ranked 2017 signing class.
DeShields and Russell are fourth-year juniors and had the option of declaring for the WNBA Draft. They both opted not to do so, instead committing to returning and helping lead what looks to be a very promising 2017-18 Tennessee squad back to national prominence.
In addition to returning four starters, including the third member of UT’s gifted Big Three in Jaime Nared, the Lady Vols have four other reserves back and welcome a highly-regarded freshman class. That group, which includes four McDonald’s All-Americans, consists of guards Anastasia Hayes and Evina Westbrook, wing Rennia Davis and post Kasiyahna Kushkituah.
(Opening Statement)
“Let’s first of all address the Diamond DeShields and Mercedes Russell situation. We are excited they are coming back for their senior year. They’re going to get their degrees in May and will continue to take classes and help us on the basketball courts. We’re looking forward to that. They both want keep continuing to get their game better, and they think the benefits are to stay here.
“I didn’t tell them they needed to stay. Obviously, I said that we would like for them to stay, but I wanted it to be their decision. I gave them pros and cons, gave them some information for them to do what they needed to do and the opportunity to go back and talk with their families. It’s a great thing when these young ladies make decisions on their own. They got facts and were knowledgeable about what they were looking for and both decided to stay.
“I got a chance to see our four freshmen play in the McDonald’s All-American game. I’m really proud of them; they already started a good bond with each other, and we will be excited when they come on board. With that said, our kids are focusing on school. We’re doing spring workouts. We can go two hours a week and then there’s six hours with our strength trainer. We started pretty much a couple of days after we got back (from Louisville for the NCAA 1st and 2nd Rounds). We’ve moved forward, and I like what I see in their efforts on the basketball court. We’re maintaining going to class and making sure we take care of business outside the basketball court.”
(On whether she was surprised that Mercedes and Diamond returned and how significant it is for the team)
“I thought Mercedes was leaning a little bit towards staying, and Diamond was maybe weighing her options more than Mercedes. I really honestly thought both would return, because they want to get better and want the opportunity to work with our four new freshmen coming in. I think there were a lot of factors that went into it, but I wasn’t surprised. I’m just glad they did their homework and didn’t react after the end of our season. They did their due diligence and made an educated decision for them. Nobody said, `you need to go; you need to stay.’ I was really proud of them stepping back, taking information and trying to understand what was best for them.”
(On the players leading the freshmen when they come in)
“When you put yourself out there, you have to do what you are asking the freshmen to do. I think all of our players feel the need to bring them along. I think it started when we were recruiting the freshmen, and they got to know our players. They fit in well. I think it’s about relationships and wanting to see the kids be successful. We need them because our numbers were down. It’s important for our players to understand that and bring them along.”
(On whether DeShields and Russell returning takes pressure off the freshmen)
“I don’t think these freshmen are coming in with any pressure, no matter if Diamond and Mercedes left or stayed. I think they see a great opportunity for themselves. They’re four of the best players in the country, but what I love about them is that they are great character kids. They come from great families. They love the game, but they also have parents who have held them accountable. Their love for this basketball program really shows. They want to come in and contribute in any way possible. That is what I love. Their goal is to come in and contribute to make this basketball team better. It’s four young ladies who want to come in and bring their ability to play the game and help this basketball team.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 17 Tennessee jumps back into SEC play this weekend with a three-game series at No. 20 Kentucky starting this Friday at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington.
Media & Broadcast Info
All three games of the series will be streamed on SEC Network +/WatchESPN. Radio coverage for the entire series will be available on Sports Radio WNML (FM 99.1 or AM 990) as Brian Rice has the call. Live stats will be available on the softball schedule page at UTSports.com HERE.
The Volunteers are riding an 11-game win streak after a series sweep over NC State last weekend and a midweek win over Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday night. They have swept their last two weekend series and the 11-game win streak is their second longest of the season after starting the year with 13 consecutive victories.
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
Sophomore Brooke Vines has been on fire at the plate over the past couple of weeks. After earning SEC and NFCA National Player of the Week honors last Monday, Vines had another huge week to help lead the Vols to a 5-0 record. The California native batted .500 and drove in 10 runs during UT’s five games last week. She is tied for 13th in the country with a career high 40 RBIs this season. Vines is also on an 11-game hit streak, the longest of her career. During her hit streak she is batting .594 with 24 RBIs and seven extra-base hits.
Tennessee vs. Ranked Foes
The Vols have had great success against ranked opponents this season, posting a 6-3 record and five consecutive victories against them. The 20th ranked Wildcats will be the sixth ranked opponent UT has faced this season. The Big Orange have 198 wins all-time against ranked foes.
Gregg Having Career Year
Junior shortstop Meghan Gregg continues to raise her game to new levels as she leads the country with 52 RBIs heading into this weekend’s series. The Georgia native ranks among the top-25 nationally in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and total bases. She also ranks among the top-5 in the SEC in eight offensive categories. Gregg is riding a nine-game hit streak and is on pace to set career highs in batting average, hits, RBIs, home runs, doubles, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and total bases.
Weekly Continues to Climb NCAA Wins List
Tennessee co-head coach Ralph Weekly moved into sole possession of fourth place on the NCAA Division I all-time wins list after last Sunday’s 6-1 win over NC State. Weekly now has 1,287 career victories and surpassed longtime Louisiana-Lafayette and LSU head coach Yvette Girouard with the win.
Scouting Report
Kentucky Wildcats (24-8, 5-4 SEC)
The Wildcats are coming off a series loss at Ole Miss last weekend and are 6-4 over their last 10 games. UK was picked to finish eighth in the SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll and features a deep pitching staff with four players logging 36.2 innings or more. The leader of the staff is senior Meagan Prince, who is 11-4 and boasts a 1.32 ERA with 106 strikeouts in 95.2 innings pitched. Abbey Cheek leads the Wildcats’ offensive attack with a .351 batting average, 24 RBIs and six homers.
UT’s All-Time Record vs. Kentucky: 41-14
UT’s 41 victories over Kentucky are its second most against any opponent they have faced. The Vols have won four straight in the series, with all four of those wins coming in 2015. Tennessee is 18-8 all-time in Lexington.
What’s Next?
The Vols return home to wrap up non-conference player with a Tuesday doubleheader against Tennessee State on April 11. First pitch for Game 1 is slated for 5 p.m. at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Drake White is bringing the heat in his new video for “Makin’ Me Look Good Again,” the third single from his current album, Spark. In the new video, which stars his real-life wife, Alex, Drake draws back the curtain on their life to reveal some intimate moments.
The video, directed by Shaun Silva, intersperses shots of Drake’s rough-and-tumble life on the road with shots of Drake and his wife at home, enjoying romantic moments together.
A post shared by Drake White (@drakewhitestomp) on
“Worn and haggard, weathered and torn / Drug through the keyhole of that back door / Blood shot red behind these shades / I look like hell, yes, I’ve seen better days / And then those loving arms they pull me back in / And there you go, baby, yeah, making me look good again,” Drake kicks off the song.
“‘Makin’ Me Look Good Again’ is special to me just because it was one of those songs that I wrote out of a very vulnerable state of when I got married and when my wife was standing beside me—that she makes me look a lot better than I do when she’s not beside me,” Drake tells Nash Country Daily. It was kind of a humorous type of idea, but it turned out to be that representation of soul. Being from Alabama and being influenced heavily by the Muscle Shoals movement, I wanted this album to represent my soulful roots. That song stands out to me as one that is extra special on the album.”
Drake is currently crossing the country on his Spark Tour 2017, with two upcoming shows at Nashville’s Exit/In on April 12 and 13. Drake will also appear at the Tortuga Music Festival in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on April 9 and at CMA Music Fest in Nashville on June 10.
Watch “Makin’ Me Look Good Again” and feel the heat.
